In the opening episode of season three of The Bear, head chef Carmy draws up a list that he titles “non-negotiables” – things that he and his team must do at all times to pursue a level of “greatness”. The list lurches between the self-explanatory (“shirts perfectly pressed”), and the nonsensical (“vibrant collaboration”). Some, such as “consolidation and speed”, sound like buzzwords he’s picked up from listening to one too many “business bro” podcasts.
But Carmy isn’t alone in his love of rules. “Non-negotiables” are a trend on social media, spanning everything from dating and health to makeup and work. On TikTok there are 54m videos discussing the term. Among the most watched – nearly 2m views and counting – is one from a user outlining seven non-negotiables that changed her dating life. They include things such as “reciprocity” and handling “your fucking emotions like an adult”.
